The European Film Awards 2020 Go To Reykjavík

The European Film Awards will be held in the Icelandic capital in December 2020. This was announced today by the European Film Academy, the City of Reykjavík and the Icelandic government. The ceremony will take place in the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center, together with various side events in connection with European film production.

The European Film Awards (EFAs) were first presented in Berlin in 1988, in order to promote and support the European film industry. They are held every second year in Berlin and travel throughout Europe in the other years: London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Warsaw, Copenhagen, Tallinn, Malta, Riga, Wroclaw and, last year, Seville. Wherever they go, the EFAs attract many foreign visitors such as film professionals, EFA Members, nominees and winners, and international journalists.

This provides a great opportunity for Reykjavík to promote Icelandic art, culture and design, as well as marketing Iceland as a preferred destination for film production. It is an important recognition of the Icelandic film industry and presents Reykjavík as an interesting travel and filmmaking destination.

Three Icelanders have received these prestigious awards: Composer Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson in 1991 for the music in the film CHILDREN OF NATURE by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson, Björk Guðmundsdóttir received two awards in 2000: European Actress and the People’s Choice Award in Lars von Trier’s DANCER IN THE DARK, the latter also went to Ingvar E. Sigurðsson in ANGELS OF THE UNIVERSE. Additionally, the European University Film Award 2017, chosen by film students from across Europe, went to Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson for HEARTSTONE.

Designed by Olafur Eliasson, Henning Larsen Architects and Batteríið Architects, Harpa is one of Reykjavík‘s most distinguished landmarks. It is a cultural and social centre in the heart of the city and features stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the North Atlantic Ocean. It is expected that around 1,400 guests will attend the award ceremony, which will also be transmitted live both in Iceland and throughout Europe.